Antibacterial therapy with bacteriophage genotypically modified to delay inactivation by the host defense system

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to bacteriophage therapy, using methods that enable the bacteriophage to delay inactivation by any and all parts of the host defense system (HDS) against foreign objects that would tend to reduce the numbers of bacteriophage and/or the efficiency of those phage at killing the host bacteria in an infection. Disclosed is a method of producing bacteriophage modified for anti-HDS purposes, one method being selection by serial passaging, and the other method being genetic engineering of a bacteriophage, so that the modified bacteriophage will remain active in the body for longer periods of time than the wild-type phage.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/222,956 filed Apr. 5, 1994.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of delaying the inactivation of bacteriophages by an animal's host defense system. One method of delaying inactivation is the use of novel bacteriophages whose genomes have been modified. Methods useful for modifying the bacteriophage genome include but are not limited to selection of mutant strains by serial passage, and the creation of new strains by genetic engineering. Such novel bacteriophages have the ability to delay being sequestered by, engulfed by, or otherwise inactivated by one or more of the processes of an animal's host defense system (HDS). This novel attribute allows the "anti-HDS modified" bacteriophage to have a longer survival time in an animal's body than the corresponding wild-type bacteriophage, and that in turn allows the modified phage to be more effective than the wild-type phage at treating (or assisting in the treatment of) a bacterial infection.

The present invention also is directed to specific methods of using bacteriophages for treating infectious bacterial diseases. The route of administration can be by any means including delivering the phage by aerosol to the lungs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the 1920s, shortly after the discovery of bacterial viruses (bacteriophages), the medical community began to extensively pursue the treatment of bacterial diseases with bacteriophage therapy. The idea of using phage as a therapy for infectious bacterial diseases was first proposed by d'Herelle in 1918, as a logical application of the bacteriophages' known ability to invade and destroy bacteria. Although early reports of bacteriophage therapy were somewhat favorable, with continued clinical usage it became clear that this form of therapy was inconsistent and unpredictable in its results. Disappointment with phage as a means of therapy grew, because the great potential of these viruses to kill bacteria in vitro was not realized in vivo. This led to a decline in attempts to develop clinical usage of phage therapy, and that decline accelerated once antibiotics began to be introduced in the 1940s and 50s. From the 1960s to the present, some researchers who adopted certain bacteriophages as a laboratory tool and founded the field of molecular biology have speculated as to why phage therapy failed.

Despite the general failure of phage as therapy, isolated groups of physicians have continued to try to use these agents to treat infectious diseases. Many of these efforts have been concentrated in Russia and India, where the high costs of and lack of availability of antibiotics continues to stimulate a search for alternative therapies. See for example Vogovazova et al., "Effectiveness of Klebsiella pneumoniae Bacteriophage in the Treatment of Experimental Klebsiella Infection", Zhurnal Mikrobiologii, Epidemiologii Immunobiologii, pp. 5-8 (April, 1991); and Vogovazova et al., "Immunological Properties and Therapeutic Effectiveness of Preparations of Klebsiella Bacteriophages", Zhurnal Mikrobiologii, Epidemiologii Immunobiologii, pp. 30-33 (March, 1992)]. These articles are similar to most of the studies of phage therapy, including the first reports by d'Herelle, in that they lack many of the controls required by researchers who investigate anti-infectious therapies. In addition, these studies often have little or no quantification of clinical results. For example, in the second of the two Russian articles cited above, the Results section concerning Klebsiella phage therapy states that "Its use was effective in . . . ozena (38 patients), suppuration of the nasal sinus (5 patients) and of the middle ear (4 patients) . . . In all cases a positive clinical effect was achieved without side effects from the administration of the preparation". Unfortunately, there were no placebo controls or antibiotic controls, and no criteria were given for "improvement".

Another clinical use of phage that was developed in the 1950s and is currently still employed albeit to a limited extent, is the use of phage lysate, specifically staphphage lysate (SPL). The researchers in this field claim that a nonspecific, cell-mediated immune response to staph endotoxin is an integral and essential part of the claimed efficacy of the SPL. [See, eg., Esber et al., J. Immunopharmacol., Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 79-92 (1981); Aoki et al., Augmenting Agents in Cancer Therapy (Raven, New York), pp. 101-112 (1981); and Mudd et al., Ann. NY Acad. Sci., Vol. 236, pp. 244-251 (1974).] This treatment, it seems that the purpose of using the phage is to lyse the bacteria specifically to obtain bacterial antigens, in a manner that those authors find preferential to lysing by sonication or other physical/chemical means. Here again, some difficulties arise in assessing these reports in the literature, because, in general, there are no placebo controls and no standard antibiotic controls against which to measure the reported efficacy of the SPL. More significantly, there is no suggestion in these articles to use phage per se in the treatment of bacterial diseases. Moreover, the articles do not suggest that phage should be modified in any manner that would delay the capture/sequestration of phage by the host defense system.

Since many patients will recover spontaneously from infections, studies must have carefully designed controls and explicit criteria to confirm that a new agent is effective. The lack of quantification and of controls in most of the phage reports from d'Herelle on makes it difficult if not impossible to determine if the phage therapies have had any beneficial effect.

As there are numerous reports of attempts at phage therapy, one would assume that had it been effective, it would have flourished in the period before antibiotics were introduced. But phage therapy has been virtually abandoned, except for the isolated pockets mentioned above.

As noted above, some of the founders of molecular biology who pioneered the use of specific phages to investigate the molecular basis of life processes have speculated as to why phage therapy was not effective. For example, G. Stent in his book Molecular Biology of Bacterial Viruses, WH Freeman & Co. (1963) pp. 8-9, stated the following:

"Just why bacteriophages, so virulent in their antibiotic action in vitro, proved to be so impotent in vivo, has never been adequately explained. Possibly the immediate antibody response of the patient against the phage protein upon hypodermic injection, the sensitivity of the phage to inactivation by gastric juices upon oral administration, and the facility with which bacteria acquire immunity or sport resistance against phage, all militated against the success of phage therapy."

In 1973, one of the present inventors, Dr. Carl Merril, discovered along with his coworkers that phage lambda, administered by various routes (per os, IV, IM, IP) to germ-free, non-immune mice, was cleared out of the blood stream very rapidly by the organs of the reticulo-endothelial system, such as the spleen, liver and bone marrow. [See Geier, Trigg and Merril, "Fate of Bacteriophage Lambda in Non-Immune, Germ-Free Mice", Nature, 246, pp. 221-222 (1973).] These observations led Dr. Merril and his coworkers to suggest (in that same Nature article cited above) overcoming the problem by flooding the body with colloidal particles, so that the reticulo-endothelial system would be so overwhelmed engulfing the particles that the phage might escape capture. Dr. Merril and his coworkers did not pursue that approach at the time as there was very little demand for an alternative antibacterial treatment such as phage therapy in the 1970s, given the numerous and efficacious antibiotics available.

Subsequently, however, numerous bacterial pathogens of great importance to mankind have become multi-drug resistant (MDR), and these MDR strains have spread rapidly around the world. As a result, hundreds of thousands of people now die each year from infections that could have been successfully treated by antibiotics just 4-5 years ago. [See e.g. C. Kunin, "Resistance to Antimicrobial Drugs--A Worldwide Calamity", Annals of Internal Medicine, 1993;118:557-561; and H. Neu, "The Crisis in Antibiotic Resistance", Science 257, 21 Aug 1992, pp. 1064-73.] .In the case of MDR tuberculosis, e.g., immunocompromised as well as non-immunocompromised patients in our era are dying within the first month or so after the onset of symptoms, despite the use of as many as 11 different antibiotics.

Medical authorities have described multi-drug resistance not just for TB, but for a wide variety of other infections as well. Some infectious disease experts have termed this situation a "global crisis". A search is underway for alternative modes and novel mechanisms for treating these MDR bacterial infections.

Bacteriophage therapy offers one possible alternative treatment. Learning from the failure of bacteriophage therapy in the past, the present inventors have discovered effective ways to overcome the major obstacles that were the cause of that failure.

One object of the present invention is to develop novel bacteriophages which are able to delay inactivation by an animal's host defense system, any component of which may be diminishing the numbers or the efficacy of the phage that have been administered.

Another object of the present invention is to develop a method for treating bacterial infectious diseases in an animal by administering to the animal an effective amount of the novel bacteriophage, and by an appropriate route of administration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the present invention, novel bacteriophages are developed by serial passage or by genetic engineering, to obtain bacteriophages capable of delaying inactivation by any component of an animal's host defense system (HDS) against foreign bodies. This allows the novel phages to survive for longer periods of time in the circulation and the tissues than the wild-type phage, thereby prolonging viability and making these modified phages more efficient at reaching and invading the bacteria at the site of an infection.

The administration of an anti-HDS phage that has been developed by serial passage or by genetic engineering will enable the animal recipient to efficaciously fight an infection with the corresponding bacterial pathogen. The phage therapy of this invention will therefore be useful either as an adjunct to standard anti-infective therapies, or as a stand-alone therapy.

The phages of the present invention can be administered by any route, such as oral, pulmonary (by aerosol or by other respiratory device for respiratory tract infections), nasal, IV, IP, per vagina, per rectum, intra-ocular, by lumbar puncture, intrathecal, and by burr hole or craniotomy if need be for direct insertion onto the meninges (e.g. in a heavily thickened and rapidly fatal tuberculous meningitis).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One of the major obstacles to bacteriophage therapy is the fact that when phages are administered to animals, they are rapidly eliminated by the animal's HDS. That suggests that the phages are not viable in the animal's circulation or tissues for a long enough time to reach the site of infection and invade the bacteria. Thus, the object of the present invention is to develop bacteriophages that are able to delay inactivation by the HDS. This will prolong phage viability in the body.

The term"host defense system" as used herein refers to all of the various structures and functions that help an animal to eliminate foreign bodies. These defenses include but are not limited to the formed cells of the immune system and the humoral components of the immune system, those humoral components including such substances as complement, lysozymes and beta-lysin. In addition, the organs of what has often been referred to as the "reticulo-endothelial system" (spleen, liver, bone marrow, lymph glands, etc.) also serve as part of the host defense system. In addition to all the phenomena cited just above which take place within this "reticulo-endothelial system", there has also been described a sequestering action wherein foreign materials (specifically including bacteriophage) are captured non-phagocytically and non-destructively in the spleen by what is known as the Schweigger-Seidel capillary sheaths--a phenomenon that may or may not involve antigen capture [See e.g. Nagy, Z., Horrath, E., and Urban, Z., Nature New Biology, 242: p. 241 (1973).]

The phrase "substantially eliminate" as used regarding the present invention, indicates that the number of bacteria is reduced to a number which can be completely eliminated by the animal's defense system or by using conventional antibacterial therapies.

Enabling bacteriophages to delay inactivation by those host defense systems--whichever components of it may or may not be employed in any given case--would be likely to result in an increased in vivo killing of bacterial pathogens that are in the host range for those bacteriophages.

In one embodiment, bacteriophages are selected by serial passage. These will by their nature have a delay in their inactivation by the HDS. Essentially, the serial passage is accomplished by administering the phage to an animal and obtaining serial blood samples over an extended period of time. Eventually one obtains viable phage that are able to delay inactivation by the HDS. When a period is reached where in blood samples there remains 0.01%-1.0%, and preferably 0.1%, of the number of phages originally placed in circulation, a sample of this remaining phage is grown up to sufficiently high titer to be injected into a second animal of the same species. [For methods of clonal purification, see M. Adams, Bacteriophages, Interscience Publishers, pp. 454-460 (1959)]. Serial blood samples are again obtained over time, and the process described above is repeated iteratively so that each time when approximately 0.1% of the phages are left, it takes longer and longer with each serial passage to reach that point when only 0.1% of the phage administered still remain in circulation. By this method of clonal purification and selection, a phage strain will be isolated that can survive at least 15% longer in the body than the longest-surviving wild-type phage.

After a number of serial passages of these non-mutagenized or mutagenized (see below) bacteriophage, a prototype "anti-HDS modified" bacteriophage is obtained. As used herein, an "anti-HDS modified" phage is defined as any phage (whether modified by serial passage or by genetic engineering) that has a half-life within the animal that is at least 15% greater than the half-life of the original wild-type phage from which it was derived. Half-life refers to the point in time when out of an initial IV dose (e.g. 1×10¹²) of a given phage, half (1×10⁶) of them still remain in circulation, as determined by serial pfu experiments ("pfu" meaning plaque forming units, a convenient measure of how many phage are present in a given sample being assayed). A 15% longer half-life indicates a successful delay of inactivation by the HDS.

The evidence that the HDS-evading phages do in fact remain viable for a longer period of time in the body is obtained by demonstrating not only by the longer time that they remain in the circulation, but also by the higher numbers of them that remain in the circulation at a given point in time. This slower rate of clearance is demonstrated by the fact that ten minutes after the IV injection of 1×10¹² of the phages into a test animal, the number of the phages still in circulation (as measured by pfu assays) is at least 10% higher than the number of the corresponding wild-type phage still in circulation in the control animal, at that point in time.

Instead of awaiting the spontaneous mutations that are selected for in the above method, alternatively mutations can be provoked during the growth of the phage in its host bacteria. The mutations may produce specimens of phage that, after selection by serial passage, are even more efficient than the non-mutagenized phage at delaying inactivation by the host defense system. Mutagenization is achieved by subjecting the phage to various stimuli, such as, but not limited to, acridine compounds, ethidium bromide in the presence of light, radioactive phosphorus, and various forms of radiation (X-rays, UV light, etc.). Mutants resulting from the iterative procedure described above, and that are found to have a longer survival time than the wild-type phage, are grown to high titer and are used to treat infectious diseases in animals and in humans.

The phage obtained by the above methods are referred to as "anti-HDS selected".

An altogether different method to achieve the desired result is to genetically engineer a phage so that it expresses molecules on its surface coat, where said molecules antagonize, inactivate, or in some other manner impede those actions of the HDS that would otherwise reduce the viability of the administered phages. One of the ways to accomplish this is to engineer a phage to express molecules that antagonize one or more of the complement components.

Complement components fix to bacteriophages, and these bacteriophages then adhere to certain white blood cells (such as macrophages) that express complement receptors. Numerous peptides have been synthesized that antagonize the functions of the various complement components. [See e.g. Lambris, J. D. et al, "Use of synthetic peptides in exploring and modifying complement reactivities" in Activators and Inhibitors of Complement, ed. R. Sim, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, 1993.] Lambris et al. (op.cit.) cite "a series of synthetic peptides spanning the covertase cleavage site in C3 (that are) found to inhibit complement activation by both the classical and alternative pathways". Among the peptides cited is a six amino acid peptide (LARSNL, residues 746-751 of C3) that "inhibits both pathways equally well".

In one method of genetically engineering such a phage, a fusion protein is obtained, wherein the peptide will be bound to the carboxyl end of the surface protein of interest [See e.g. Sambrook, J., Fritsch, E., and Maniatis, T.: Molecular Cloning. A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 1989]. This construct is made by cloning the gene for the phage surface protein into a plasmid vector system, and then cloning the oligonucleotide for the peptide of interest into this carrying vector by in-frame fusion at the 3'-end of the gene for the surface protein. This fusion of the gene for the phage surface protein with the oligonucleotide for the complement-antagonizing peptide would then be incorporated into the phage of interest by the in vivo generalized recombination system in the host bacteria for the phage of interest. Phage whose genomic sequence is already completely known, and phage whose genomic sequence is unknown or partially unknown can be used in the present invention.

The surface expression of a recombinant complementant-agonizing peptide is but one example of several complement-related strategies that might be used for these purposes. Another example would be the expression of a human complement-antagonizing protein on the surface of a phage. Several transplantation research facilities are currently expressing such human complementant-agonizing proteins in transgenic animals, in the hopes that when these transgenic organs are donated they will not be immunologically rejected by a human recipient. [See e.g. Genetic Engineering News, Oct. 15, 1993, p.1.] In an analogous manner, the expression of such recombinant human complement-antagonizing proteins on the surface of a bacteriophage may allow the phage to delay being inactivated by the host defense system.

In addition to complement-related strategies, there are many other categories of molecules that can be recombinantly engineered into a phage to delay inactivation by the host's defense system. Other categories of molecules that could be expressed on the surface of bacteriophages, and would fall under the scope of this invention, include but are not limited to: interleukins and other cytokines; autocrines; and inhibitors of the various cellular activating or inhibiting factors (e.g. inhibitors of macrophage activating factor). Genes for these proteins (or for active subunits of them) can be incorporated into a phage genome so that they will be expressed on the surface.

In addition, if it were possible to get a given bacterial host strain to glycosylate a recombinant protein, then the purpose of the invention could be served by introducing genes that will express glycosylated proteins. Such proteins are known by their negative charge to repel immune cells, such as the macrophage. Examples might include but would not be limited to (1) the C-terminal portion of the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), and (2) the various glycophorins on the surfaces of blood cells.

Phage modified in this manner are referred to as "anti-HDS engineered".

The present invention can be applied across the spectrum of bacterial diseases, either by serial passage of phages (mutagenized or non-mutagenized) or by genetically engineering phages, so that phages are developed that are specific for each of the bacterial strains of interest. In that way, a full array of anti-HDS selected and/or anti-HDS engineered bacteriophage is developed for virtually all the bacterial (and other applicable) pathogens for man, his pets, livestock and zoo animals (whether mammal, avian, or pisciculture). Phage therapy will then be available:

1) as an adjunct to or as a replacement for those antibiotics and/or chemotherapeutic drugs that are no longer functioning in a bacteriostatic or bactericidal manner due to the development of multi-drug resistance;

2) as a treatment for those patients who are allergic to the antibiotics and/or chemotherapeutic drugs that would otherwise be indicated; and

3) as a treatment that has fewer side effects than many of the antibiotics and/or chemotherapeutic drugs that would otherwise be indicated for a given infection.

The second embodiment of the present invention is the development of methods to treat bacterial infections in animals through phage therapy with the anti-HDS modified bacteriophages described above. Hundreds of bacteriophages and the bacterial species they infect are known in the art. The present invention is not limited to a specific bacteriophage or a specific bacteria. Rather, the present invention can be utilized to develop anti-HDS modified bacteriophages which can be used to treat any and all infections caused by their host bacteria.

While it is contemplated that the present invention can be used to treat any bacterial infection in an animal, it is particularly contemplated that the methods described herein will be very useful as a therapy (adjunctive or stand-alone) in infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria. Experts report [See e.g. Gibbons, A., "Exploring New Strategies to Fight Drug-Resistant Microbes, Science, 21 Aug. 1993, pp. 1036-38.] that at the present time, the drug-resistant bacterial species and strains listed below represent the greatest threat to mankind:

1. All of the clinically important members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, most notably but not limited to the following:

a) All the clinically important strains of Escherichia, most notably E. coli. One among a number of candidate wild-type phages against these particular pathogens that could be used as a starting point for the serial passage and/or the genetic engineering of the present invention would be ATCC phage #23723-B2. [Note: For purposes of brevity, in all the following examples of pathogens, the corresponding wild-type phage will be indicated by the following phraseology: "Example of corresponding phage:"₋₋₋₋₋₋.]

b) All the clinically important strains of Klebsiella, most notably K. pneumoniae [Example of corresponding phage: ATCC phage #23356-B1].

c) All the clinically important strains of Shigella, most notably S. dysenteriae [Example of corresponding phage: ATCC phage #11456a-B1].

d) All the clinically important strains of Salmonella, including S. abortus-equi [Example of corresponding phage: ATCC phage #9842-B1], S. typhi [Example of corresponding phage: ATCC phage #19937-B1], S. typhimurtum [Example of corresponding phage: ATCC phage #19585-B1], S. newport [Example of corresponding phage: ATCC phage #27869-B1], S. paratyphi-A [Example of corresponding phage: ATCC phage #12176-B1], S. paratyphi-B [Example of corresponding phage: ATCC phage #19940-B1], S. potsdam [Example of corresponding phage: ATCC phage #25957-B2], and S. pollurum [Example of corresponding phage: ATCC phage #19945-B1].

e) All the clinically important strains of Serratia, most notably S. marcescens [Example of corresponding phage: ATCC phage #14764-B1].

f) All the clinically important strains of Yersinia, most notably Y. pestis [Example of corresponding phage: ATCC phage #11953-B1].

g) All the clinically important strains of Enterobacter, most notably E. cloacae [Example of corresponding phage: ATCC phage #23355-B1].

2. All the clinically important Enterococci, most notably E. faecalis [Example of corresponding phage: ATCC phage #19948-B1] and E. faecium [Example of corresponding phage: ATCC phage #19953-B1].

3. All the clinically important Haemophilus strains, most notably H. influenzae [a corresponding phage is not available from ATCC for this pathogen, but several can be obtained from WHO or other labs that make them available publicly].

4. All the clinically important Mycobacteria, most notably M. tuberculosis [Example of corresponding phage: ATCC phage #25618-B1], M. avium-intracellulare, M. bovis, and M. leprae. [Corresponding phage for these pathogens are available commercially from WHO, via The National Institute of Public Healthy & Environmental Protection, Bilthoven, The Netherlands].

5. Neisseria gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis [Corresponding phage for both can be obtained publicly from WHO or other sources].

6. All the clinically important Pseudomonads, most notably P. aeuruginosa [Example of corresponding phage: ATCC phage #14203-B1].

7. All the clinically important Staphylococci, most notably S. aureus [Example of corresponding phage: ATCC phage #27690-B1] and S. epidermidis [Corresponding phage are available publicly through the WHO, via the Colindale Institute in London].

8. All the clinically important Streptococci, most notably S. pneumoniae [Corresponding phage can be obtained publicly from WHO or other sources].

9. Vibrio cholera [Example of corresponding phage: ATCC phage #14100-B1].

There are additional bacterial pathogens too numerous to mention that, while not currently in the state of antibiotic-resistance crisis, nevertheless make excellent candidates for treatment with anti-HDS modified bacteriophages that are able to delay inactivation by the HDS, in accordance with the present invention. Thus, all bacterial infections caused by bacteria for which there is a corresponding phage can be treated using the present invention.

Any phage strain capable of doing direct or indirect harm to a bacteria (or other pathogen) is contemplated as useful in the present invention. Thus, phages that are lytic, phages that are lysogenic but can later become lytic, and nonlytic phages that can deliver a product that will be harmful to the bacteria are all useful in the present invention.

The animals to be treated by the methods of the present invention include but are not limited to man, his domestic pets, livestock, pisciculture, and the animals in zoos and aquatic parks (such as whales and dolphins).

The anti-HDS modified bacteriophage of the present invention can be used as a stand-alone therapy or as an adjunctive therapy for the treatment of bacterial infections. Numerous antimicrobial agents (including antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents) are known in the art which would be useful in combination with anti-HDS modified bacteriophage for treating bacterial infections. Examples of suitable antimicrobial agents and the bacterial infections which can be treated with the specified antimicrobial agents are listed below. However, the present invention is not limited to the antimicrobial agents listed below as one skilled in the art could easily determine other antimicrobial agents useful in combination with anti-HDS modified bacteriophage.

    ______________________________________                                         Pathogen       Antimicrobial or antimicrobial group                            ______________________________________                                         E. coli                                                                        uncomplicated urinary                                                                         trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole                                   tract infection                                                                               (abbrev. TMO-SMO), or ampicillin;                                              1st generation cephalosporins,                                                 ciprofloxacin                                                   systemic infection                                                                            ampicillin, or a 3rd generation                                                cephalosporin; aminoglycosides,                                                aztreonam, or a penicillin +                                                   a pencillinase inhibitor                                        Klebsiella pneumoniae                                                                         1st generation cephalosporins;                                                 3rd gener. cephalosporins,                                                     cefotaxime, moxalactam, amikacin,                                              chloramphenicol                                                 Shigella (various)                                                                            ciprofloxacin; TMO-SMO, ampicillin,                                            chloramphenicol                                                 Salmonella:                                                                    S. typhi       chloramphenicol;                                                               ampicillin or TMO-SMO                                           non-typhi species                                                                             ampicillin; chloramphenicol, TMO-SMO,                                          ciprofloxacin                                                   Yersinia pestis                                                                               streptomycin; tetracycline,                                                    chloramphenicol                                                 Enterobacter cloacae                                                                          3rd generation cephalosporins,                                                 gentamicin, or tobramycin;                                                     carbenicillin, amikacin, aztreonam,                                            imipenem                                                        Hemophilus influenzae:                                                         meningitis     chloramphenicol or 3rd generation                                              cephalosporins; ampicillin                                      other H. infl. infections                                                                     ampicillin; TMO-SMO, cefaclor,                                                 cefuroxime, ciprofloxacin                                       Mycobacterium tuberculosis                                                                    isoniazid (INH) + rifampin or                                   and M. avium-intracellulare                                                                   rifabutin, the above given along with                                          pyrazinamide +/or ethambutol                                    Neisseria:                                                                     N. meningitidis                                                                               penicillin G; chloramphenicol, or a                                            sulfonamide                                                     N. gonorrhoeae:                                                                penicillin-sensitive                                                                          penicillin G; spectinomycin,                                                   ceftriaxone                                                     penicillin-resistant                                                                          ceftriaxone; spectinomycin,                                                    cefuroxime or cefoxitin,                                                       ciprofloxacin                                                   Pseudomonas aeruginosa                                                                        tobramycin or gentamycin (+/- carben-                                          icillin, aminoglycosides); amikacin,                                           ceftazidime, aztreonam; imipenem                                Staph aureus                                                                   non-penicillinase                                                                             penicilllin G; 1st generation                                   producing      cephalosporins, vancomycin, imipenem,                                          erythromycin                                                    penicillinase producing                                                                       a penicillinase-resisting penicillin;                                          1st generation cephalosporins, vanco-                                          mycin, imipenem, erythromycin                                   Streptococcus pneumoniae                                                                      penicillin G; 1st generation                                                   cephalosporins, erythromycin,                                                  chloramphenicol                                                 Vibrio cholera tetracycline; TMO-SMO                                           ______________________________________                                    

The routes of administration include but are not limited to: oral, aerosol or other device for delivery to the lungs, nasal spray, intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intrathecal, vaginal, rectal, topical, lumbar puncture, intrathecal, and direct application to the brain and/or meninges. Excipients which can be used as a vehicle for the delivery of the phage will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the free phage could be in lyophilized form and be dissolved just prior to administration by IV injection. The dosage of administration is contemplated to be in the range of about 10⁶ to about 10¹³ pfu/per kg/per day, and preferably about 10¹² pfu/per kg/per day. The phage are administered until successful elimination of the pathogenic bacteria is achieved.

With respect to the aerosol administration to the lungs, the anti-HDS modified phage is incorporated into an aerosol formulation specifically designed for administration to the lungs by inhalation. Many such aerosols are known in the art, and the present invention is not limited to any particular formulation. An example of such an aerosol is the "PROVENTIL" inhaler manufactured by Schering-Plough, the propellant of which contains trichloromonofluoromethane, dichlorodifluoromethane and oleic acid. The concentrations of the propellant ingredients and emulsifiers are adjusted if necessary based on the phage being used in the treatment. The number of phage to be administered per aerosol treatment will be in the range of 10⁶ to 10¹³ pfu, and preferably 10¹² pfu.

The foregoing embodiments of the present invention are further described in the following Examples. However, the present invention is not limited by the Examples, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, any bacteria and phage known to infect said bacteria can be substituted in the experiments of the following examples.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Selection of anti-HDS selected phage by serial passage through mice.

Part 1. A stock of mutagenized or non-mutagenized lambda coliphage strain is injected in one bolus into the blood of laboratory mice at 10¹² pfu/per kg, suspended in 0.5 cc of sterile normal saline. The mice are periodically bled to follow the survival of the phage in the body. The phage are assayed by plating them on their laboratory host, E. coli. When the titer of phage in the mice reaches a range of 0.01%-1.0%, and preferably 0.1%, of the titer initially injected, the phage isolated at this point in time are plaque isolated and the procedure repeated. The repeated passage of the lambda phage between animal and bacteria yields a phage strain that has a longer survival time in the body of the mice. The anti-HDS selected phage strain is then subjected to clonal (plaque) purification.

Where the phage being administered for serial passage have first been mutagenized, the mutagenization is carried out according to procedures known in the art [See e.g., Adams, M. Bacteriophages. NY: Wiley Interscience, 1959, pp. 310-318 and pp. 518-520.] For mutagenization by ultraviolet radiation, during the last 40%-90% (and preferably 65%) of the latent period, the phage (inside the infected host bacteria) are exposed to 3,000-6,000 ergs (and preferably 4,500 ergs) of ultraviolet radiation per square mm. For mutagenization by X-radiation, a wavelength of 0.95 Å is used at doses from 10-250 (and preferably 150) kiloroentgens.

Example 2

Determination that HDS inactivation is delayed for the Anti-HDS Selected Phage as compared to Wild-Type Phage.

Two groups of mice are injected with phage as specified below:

Group 1: The experimental group receives an IV injection consisting of 1×10¹² of the anti-HDS selected phage, suspended in 0.5 cc of normal sterile saline.

Group 2: The control group receives a IV injection consisting of 1×10¹² of the wild-type phage from which the serially-passaged phage were derived, suspended in 0.5 cc of sterile normal saline.

Both groups of mice are bled at regular intervals, and the blood samples assayed for phage content (by pfu assays) to determine the following:

1) Assays for half-lives of the two phages: For each group of mice, the point in time is noted at which there remains in circulation only half (i.e., 1×10⁶) the amount of phage as administered at the outset. The point in time at which half of the anti-HDS selected phage have been eliminated from the circulation is at least 15% longer than the corresponding point in time at which half of the wild-type phage have been eliminated from the circulation.

2) Assays for absolute numbers: For each group of mice, a sample of blood is taken at precisely 1 hour after administration of the phage. At 1 hour post-injection, the numbers of anti-HDS-selected phage in circulation are at least 10% higher than the numbers of wild-type phage still in circulation.

Example 3

Determination that the anti-HDS selected phage has a greater capacity than wild-type phage to prevent lethal infections in mice.

Part 1. Peritonitis Model: An LD₅₀ dosage of E. coli is administered intraperitonally (IP) to laboratory mice. The strain of E. coli used is known to be lysed by the coliphage strain that is selected by Serial Passage. The treatment modality is administered precisely 20 minutes after the bacteria are injected, but before the onset of symptoms. The treatment modalities consist of the following:

Group 1: The experimental group receives an IP injection consisting of 1×10¹² of the anti-HDS selected phage lambda coliphage suspended in 2 cc of sterile normal saline.

Group 2: A first control group receives an IP injection consisting of 1×10¹² of the wild-type phage from which the anti-HDS selected phage were developed, suspended in 2 cc of normal sterile saline.

Group 3: A second control group receives an IP injection of 2 cc of normal sterile saline.

Evidence that treatment with the anti-HDS selected phage prevented the development of a lethal event in the peritonitis model is measured by using the following three criteria:

(1) Survival of the animal

(2) Bacterial counts: Samples of peritoneal fluid are withdrawn every 1/2 hour from the three groups of infected mice, and the rate of increase or decrease in E. coli colony counts in the three groups is noted

(3) Phage control: Using the samples of IP fluid withdrawn from the infected mice, the numbers of pfu of the anti-HDS selected phage and the numbers of pfu of the wild-type phage are noted.

Part 2. Bacteremia Model:

An LD₅₀ dosage of E. coli is administered intravenously (IV) to laboratory mice, where the strain of E. coli used is known to be lysed by the coliphage strain that was chosen for the serial passage. The treatment modality (see below) is administered precisely 20 minutes after the bacteria are injected, but before the onset of symptoms. The treatment modalities consist of the following:

Group 1: The experimental group receives an IV injection consisting of 1×10¹² of the anti-HDS selected lambda coliphage suspended in 0.5 cc of sterile normal saline.

Group 2: A first control group receives an IV injection consisting of 1×10¹² of the wild-type phage from which the Anti-HDS selected phage were developed, suspended in 0.5 cc of normal sterile saline.

Group 3: A second control group receives an IV injection of 0.5 cc of normal sterile saline.

Evidence that treatment with the anti-HDS selected phage prevented the development of a lethal event in the bacteremia model is measured using the following three criteria:

(1) Survival of the animal

(2) Bacterial counts: Samples of blood are withdrawn every 1/2 hour from the three groups of infected mice, and the rate of increase or decrease in E. coli colony counts in the three groups is noted.

(3) Phage counts: In the samples of blood withdrawn from the infected mice, the numbers of pfu of the anti-HDS selected phage and the numbers of pfu of the wild-type phage are noted.

Example 4

Genetic engineering of phage to express molecules that antagonize the host defense system, thereby enabling the phage to delay inactivation by the host defense system.

Part 1. Making the Fusion Protein

Step 1. A double-stranded DNA encoding the complement antagonizing peptide LARSNL is synthesized on an automated oligonucleotide synthesizer using standard techniques.

Step 2. The gene for the phage coat surface protein of interest (see part 2, below) is cloned into a plasmid vector system, by techniques known in the art. The oligonucleotide that has been prepared in Step 1 is cloned into the plasmid vector system by in-frame fusion at the 3'-end of the gene for the surface protein.

Step 3. The fusion gene is then incorporated into a phage by the in vivo generalized recombination system in the host bacteria for the phage. The phage then expresses the fusion protein on its surface.

Part 2: Selecting phage coat surface proteins for fusion with the peptide/protein of interest.

A. Incorporating the gene for the complement-antagonizing peptide into a phage whose genome is well characterized

The orfX gene, which encodes a carboxy-terminal tail protein of lambda coliphage, is one for which it is known that foreign nucleotide sequences can be introduced without there being disruption of the structure or function of the phage. The tail surface protein expressed by the orfX gene is made into a fusion protein with the complement-antagonizing peptide, by the plasmid vector method described in part 1 above.

B. Incorporating a gene for a complement-antagonizing peptide into phage whose genome is not well characterized.

Step 1. Selection of the phage surface protein to be fused with the complement-antagonizing peptide:

a) Isolation of phage coat surface proteins and preparation of antibodies thereto:

(1) Samples of the phage of interest are broken up in 0.1% SDS detergent for 2 minutes at 95° C. The mixture is cooled and placed in 9M urea, and is then separated by high resolution 2D gel electrophoresis. The protein fragments are then isolated from the gel, and processed as described below.

(2) Samples of the protein fragments from the gel are injected into animals to produce either polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies.

(3) Antibodies are isolated and then marked with uranium. These marked antibodies are reacted against whole phage. The marker pinpoints precisely those proteins on the surface of the phage to which the antibodies have bound through visualization by electron microscopy. [See e.g. K. Williams and M. Chase, ed., Methods In Immunology and Immunochemistry, Vol. 1, 1967, Academic Press.] Antibodies directed against a surface protein extending outward from the surface of the virus are retained for further use.

b) Preparation of phage restriction fragments:

The genome of the phage is cut by restriction enzymes, and the resulting restriction fragments are cloned into expression vector plasmids. Each of these plasmids expresses its corresponding protein, creating a pool of expressed proteins.

c) Reacting the expressed proteins with the marked antibodies:

The antibodies directed against a surface protein extending outward from the surface of the virus are reacted against the proteins expressed by the plasmid vectors.

d) Correlating coat protein antibodies to the plasmid vectors that express the genes for those coat proteins:

The reaction of a marked antibody with an expressed protein pinpoints the expression plasmid whose enclosed restriction fragment expresses the particular protein. Thus, the genomic fragment encoding each coat surface protein is determined using the marked antibodies.

e) Determining that the gene in its entirety has been obtained:

The restriction fragments containing a gene for a surface protein are micro-sequenced by the Sanger technique to determine (1) the precise amino acid sequence of the coat surface proteins; (2) the presence of a start and a stop signal (indicating that the gene in its entirety has been obtained); and (3) the presence of either a C-terminal or an N-terminal amino acid.

Step 2. Fusing the candidate phage surface protein with the complement-antagonizing peptide of interest:

a) Preparing the coat protein gene for fusion:

The gene for a surface protein is contained in its plasmid expression vector. The oligo-nucleotide for the complementant-agonizing peptide is spliced into this plasmid expression vector by in-frame fusion at the 3'-end of the coat surface protein.

b) Incorporating the fusion gene into the phage of interest:

The fusion gene is incorporated into the phage by the in vivo generalized recombination system in the host bacteria for the phage.

c) Demonstrating that the phage expresses the fusion protein:

The phage is incubated with a corresponding heavy metal-marked antibody that has been raised against the coat surface protein. The marker is detected on the phage by electron microscopy only if the phage has expressed that fusion protein on its surface. [See e.g. K. Williams and M. Chase, Methods In Immunology and Immunochemistry, Vol. 1, 1967, Academic Press.]

Example 5

Demonstration that the genetically engineered phage delay inactivation by the HDS, compared to wild-type phage:

Two groups of mice are injected with phage as specified below:

Group 1: The experimental group receives an IV injection consisting of 1×10¹² of the genetically modified phage, suspended in 0.5 cc of sterile normal saline.

Group 2: The control group receives an IV injection consisting of 1×10¹² of the wild-type phage from which the genetically modified phage were derived, suspended in 5 cc of sterile normal saline.

Both groups of mice are bled at regular intervals, and the blood samples assayed for phage content (by pfu assays) to determine the following:

1) Assays for half-lives of the two phages: For each group of mice, the point in time is noted at which there remains in circulation only half (i.e., 1×10⁶) the amount of phage as administered at the outset. The point in time at which half of the genetically modified phage have been eliminated from the circulation is at least 15% longer than the corresponding point in time at which half of the wild-type phage have been eliminated from the circulation.

2) Assays for absolute numbers: For each group of mice, a sample of blood is taken at precisely 1 hour after administration of the phage. The criterion used is that at 1 hour post-injection, pfu assays reveal that the numbers of genetically engineered phage still in circulation in the experimental animal are at least 10% higher than the numbers of wild-type phage still in circulation in the control animal.

Example 6

Determination that the genetically engineered phage has a greater capacity than wild type phage to prevent lethal infections in mice.

Part 1. Peritonitis Model:

An LD₅₀ dosage of E. coli is administered intraperitonally (IP) to laboratory mice. The strain of E. coli used is one known to be lysed by the coliphage strain that has been genetically engineered. The treatment modality is administered precisely 20 minutes after the bacteria are injected, but before the onset of symptoms. The treatment modalities consist of the following:

Group 1: The experimental group receives an IP injection consisting of 1×10¹² of the genetically engineered lambda coliphage suspended in 2 cc of sterile normal saline.

Group 2: A first control group receives an IP injection consisting of 1×10¹² of the wild-type phage from which the genetically modified phage were developed, suspended in 2 cc of sterile normal saline.

Group 3: A second control group receives an IP injection of sterile normal saline.

Evidence that treatment with the genetically modified phage prevented the development of a lethal event in the peritonitis model is measured by using the following three criteria:

(1) Survival of the animal

(2) Bacterial counts: Samples of peritoneal fluid are withdrawn every 1/2 hour from the three groups of infected mice, and the rate of increase or decrease in E. coli colony counts in the three groups is noted

(3) Phage control: Using the samples of IP fluid withdrawn from the infected mice, the numbers of pfu of the genetically engineered phage versus the numbers of pfu of the wild-type phage are noted.

Part 2. Bacteremia Model:

An LD₅₀ dosage of E. coli is administered intravenously (IV) to laboratory mice, where the strain of E. coli used is known to be lysed by the coliphage strain that was genetically engineered. The treatment modality (see below) is administered precisely 20 minutes after the bacteria are injected, but before the onset of symptoms. The treatment modalities consist of the following:

Group 1: The experimental group receives an IV injection consisting of 1×10¹² of the genetically engineered lambda coliphage suspended in 0.5 cc of sterile normal saline.

Group 2: A first control group receives an IV injection consisting of 1×10¹² of the wild-type phage from which the genetically engineered phage were developed, suspended in 0.5 cc of sterile normal saline.

Group 3: A second control group receives an IV injection of 0.5 cc of sterile normal saline.

Evidence that treatment with the genetically engineered phage prevented the development of a lethal event in the bacteremia model is measured using the following three criteria:

(1) Survival of the animal

(2) Bacterial counts: In the samples of blood that are withdrawn every 1/2 hour from the three groups of infected mice, the absolute numbers as well as the rate of increase or decrease in E. coli colony counts is noted, for each of those three groups.

(3) Phage counts: In the samples of blood withdrawn from the infected mice, the numbers of pfu of the genetically engineered phage and the numbers of pfu of the wild-type phage are noted. 

We claim:
 1. A method of obtaining a bacteriophage with delayed inactivation by an animal's host defense system against foreign bodies, comprising:(a) parenterally injecting a bacteriophage into an animal; (b) obtaining serial blood samples over time and measuring the bacteriophage present in each sample; (c) growing a portion of the bacteriophage present in a blood sample obtained when about 0.1% to 1% of the bacteriophage remain in said blood samples from said animal, to high titer in a corresponding host bacteria; and (d) repeating steps (a), (b) and (c) at least once, to yield a bacteriophage that has delayed inactivation by an animal's host defense system,wherein step (d) is repeated until a bacteriophage is obtained which has at least a 15% longer half-life than a corresponding wild-type phage. 